Chapter 87

Togril was ruthless and incredibly tough. He leaped into the heart of the enemy lines alone, slicing any enemies who came within a few meters of him in half.

“Gaaaah!”

“Oh, a devil! A devil!”

“Kraaaah!”

The allied soldiers were powerless against Togril's overwhelming might and could only be massacred helplessly.

It wasn't just that.

“Kiiiiiiiiii!”

“Kiiiiiiii!”

Togril summoned an enormous number of hawk spirits, perhaps thousands, which completely covered the battlefield.

Just like Amukan, Togril could summon the hawk spirits that symbolized the Kerait tribe.

The hawk spirits dominated the sky of the battlefield, swarming like a hive of bees to torment the allied soldiers.

They dove at terrifying speeds, tearing flesh with their talons and pecking out eyes with their beaks.

Thanks to the fierce activities of these hawk spirits and Togril, the Kerait tribe was gradually gaining the upper hand in this final battle.

“This won't do.”

Camille, who had been watching the battle from a distance, finally rose from her seat.

“With you in your current state?”

Kairos snorted at Camille.

“After not eating or sleeping for days, how do you plan to face that brute?”

“Then should we just let it be? If we can't stop him, there's no hope for this battle.”

“Of course not.”

Kairos also agreed with Camille's opinion.

In reality, Togril alone accounted for more than 50% of the Kerait tribe's combat power.

“But there's no need for you to step in.”

“Huh?”

“Look over there.”

Kairos pointed over Camille's shoulder.

“...!”

Camille turned her head and was startled.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Cavalry were charging at an incredible speed from a distance, and infantry were following closely behind at a very fast pace.

And the flag fluttering beside those cavalry and infantry... was the flag of the Iota Kingdom.

Oto had not only sent the Margrave Kingdom's army but also, with a slight delay, the Iota Kingdom's army.

“Are you still going to go?”

“No.”

Camille answered and leaned against a rock.

“There's no need to suffer unnecessarily.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're not the type to sit this out.”

Kairos said this because Camille, no matter how tired, was not the type to sit out a battle.

She would undoubtedly run around to save even one more soldier.

But the fatigue was so severe that even Camille didn't want to step in.

* * *

The entry of the Iota Kingdom's army once again turned the tide of the battle.

“Iota Kingdom soldiers! Annihilate the enemies!”

“Waaaaah!”

The combat power of the Iota Kingdom's army, which had joined the large-scale battle, was truly outstanding.

Thanks to Oto's mastery of the mana manipulation techniques from the Kuntachi family, even the lowest-ranking soldiers in the Iota Kingdom's army could handle mana.

Moreover, due to the consistent training by the legendary instructor Spooner, the soldiers' combat power was on par with that of a major power.

With the Iota Kingdom's army joining, it was only natural that the Kerait tribe, who had just gained the upper hand, would be quickly cornered.

“What is this...?”

Togril, who had been enthusiastically massacring the allied soldiers, was greatly confused when an unknown army appeared.

It was a foregone conclusion that he would win this battle and gain dominance over the Habur steppe through his own fierce efforts.

But the sudden arrival of additional allied forces was like someone sprinkling ashes on a meal that was almost done.

“These unheard-of scoundrels!”

Togril, his anger reaching its peak, summoned the hawk spirits to gather above the Iota Kingdom's army, intending to use them to hinder and slow down the powerful Iota Kingdom's army.

However, someone had already read Togril's intentions.

Whoosh!

A blazing fire rose high into the sky.

“Kiiiiik!”

“Kiiik!”

The hawk spirits that had gathered above the Iota Kingdom's army were swept away by the rising flames, and more than half of them disappeared in an instant.

“No, no!”

Togril, seeing this, was so shocked that he couldn't even speak.

At that moment,

Oto, wearing the <Burning Armor Set>, appeared.

Sizzle!

The <Burning Armor Set> was glowing red, as if it had just spewed flames.

As soon as Togril concentrated the hawk spirits above the Iota Kingdom's army, Oto had promptly spewed flames.

“Who are you...?”

Togril instinctively recognized his opponent and asked Oto.

“A debt collector.”

“A, a debt collector...?”

Togril, puzzled by Oto's abrupt answer, tried to recall if he owed anyone.

But it wasn't easy for a tribal chief to owe someone.

“I don't owe you anything.”

“You must.”

“...?”

“Surely you haven't forgotten the incident on the western trade route? You not only plundered all our cargo but also killed the merchants and even the workers.”

“Oh.”

Togril finally remembered.

“Yes, that's right. That incident did happen. I had given the order to control the trade route.”

“You have to pay the price.”

“Are you here for revenge? Then... are you a merchant?”

“I'm not a merchant.”

“...?”

“I am Oto de Scuderi, the king of the Iota Kingdom.”

“A king? Are you really the leader of a country?”

“Yes."

“Ah, I see.”

Togril was surprised when Oto revealed his identity.

The reason was simple.

Togril, being ignorant, knew almost nothing about the world outside the Habur steppe.

He only knew about the Margrave Kingdom...

Moreover, Togril thought that the kings of the continent were cowardly and incompetent, hiding and giving orders rather than fighting in person.

In reality, it was rare for a king to personally join a battle.

Even when they did, they would command from the command post, rarely participating in the actual fighting.

“Your courage is commendable, but you are foolish. The weak king of the continent will be cut in two by my sword.”

“We'll see about that.”

Oto pointed his sword at Togril.

“Whether I can collect my debt or not.”

Thus, the decisive battle that would determine the outcome of the war began.

Togril, the chief of the Kerait tribe, and Oto, the de facto supreme commander of the allied forces, faced each other.

* * *

In fact, Oto didn't need to step in.

With the Iota Kingdom's army joining, the battle was practically won.

However, Oto personally stepped in because the faster Togril was eliminated, the sooner the battle would end.

‘Indeed, strong power is necessary.’

Oto, watching the battle between the Kerait tribe and the allied forces, once again realized the importance of a strong presence.

So far, Oto's strategy had been perfect.

He had used the information he knew to manipulate the Margrave Kingdom, Helmut, and the Kerait tribe as he pleased.

However, the reason he had to deploy the Iota Kingdom's army was that there was no one strong enough to face Togril.

In other words, even a well-laid plan and advantageous situation could crumble like a sandcastle in the face of a powerful force.

That's why Oto stepped in.

He chose himself as the final piece to complete the picture he had drawn.

He also needed practical experience.

“Die! Weak king of the continent!”

Togril swung his greatsword at Oto with terrifying momentum.

‘Danger!’

Oto, sensing Togril's ferocious and terrifying momentum, initially stepped back.

In terms of size and the size of the greatsword he wielded, Togril completely overpowered Oto.

If he had recklessly confronted him head-on, he would have been cut in two along with his sword or thrown far away by the powerful impact.

“Rat!”

Togril, riding the momentum, launched a fierce attack on Oto.

“Kuh! Are all the people of the continent as cowardly as you! How long do you plan to keep running!”

“...”

“Where did the courage to challenge me go!”

At that moment,

“Spit!”

Oto suddenly spat.

The <Dastardly Death Orb> pierced Togril's left eye.

“Kraaaah!”

Togril screamed in pain.

‘Now!’

Seizing the opportunity, Oto's sword aimed for the center of Togril's chest.

However,

Bang!

“Ouch!”

Oto screamed and was thrown far away.

Togril, sensing the danger, instinctively released mana, and the explosive mana storm blew Oto away.

“Guh... Guuuuuh!”

Togril, clutching his bleeding left eye, growled at Oto.

“Dare... Dare to... I will... I will gouge out your eyes and eat them raw!”

“Huh.”

Oto, not responding to Togril's words, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he got up.

He had suffered some internal injuries from the exposure to Togril's mana.

“Not bad. I thought you wouldn't be able to dodge.”

In fact, Oto had aimed for Togril's forehead, not his left eye.

However, Togril had instinctively turned his head, avoiding the fatal blow.

‘Perhaps it's better that it missed.’

Oto was certain that Togril's defensive capabilities were better than he had expected.

If it had been anyone else, they would have lost more than just an eye.

The <Dastardly Death Orb> would have pierced through the eye, through the brain, and out the back of the head.

‘His defense is stronger than I expected. I need to be careful.’

Oto, thinking this, faced Togril, who was charging like an angry bull.

“Uuuuuuuu!”

Togril, screaming in a voice close to a roar, increased his speed and attack speed, fiercely pressing Oto.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty is in danger!”

Togril's attacks were so vicious and overwhelming that the Iota Kingdom's knights, watching, could no longer stand by and tried to help Oto.

However, Oto was not just standing there.

Swoosh!

Gray flashes began to emit from Oto's eyes.

One of the five powers of the Invincible Emperor, the <Eye of Calypso>.

The second skill in this system, the <Eye of Petrification>, had been activated.

However, Togril was not an easy opponent.

“Guhuuuuu!”

Togril's body, exposed to the <Eye of Petrification>, turned gray in various places but did not turn to stone.

Togril not only had an incredibly high defense but also a high resistance to magic.

Thus, he was able to resist the <Eye of Petrification>.

“Do you think you can survive me, Togril, with such a cheap trick!”

Togril roared and charged at Oto.

A formidable opponent.

Truly the strongest of the Habur steppe, he was not someone who could be easily defeated.